Buzz names his top 10 NRL chokers

Phil Rothfield

–,
Monday,
August,
23,
2010,(10:33pm)

When Parramatta’s veteran winger Luke Burt sprayed his penalty attempt to the left of the goalposts on Sunday, he was hardly the first NRL player to crack under pressure. Many talented players have choked under the stress and strain in big matches over the years. With the help of league historian David Middleton, I’ve listed 10 of the biggest occasions when stars couldn’t handle the pressure in my 35 years covering the game.

I’ll be back live online from 3pm to discuss. In the meantime, I’m off on a secret assignment. Keep your questions and comments coming.

1 Neville Glover (Parramatta v Manly, 1976 grand final)

Manly held a narrow lead 12 minutes from fulltime when the Eels caught the Sea Eagles’ defence short in the Paddington corner of the SCG. Centre John Moran committed the defence before throwing a pass to unmarked winger Neville Glover but Glover spilled the ball and the Eels went down 13-10.

2 Mick Cronin (Parramatta v St George, 1977 grand final)

In his first season with Parramatta, Cronin had kicked countless pressure goals. But in the final minutes of the grand final, after Ed Sulkowicz had crashed over out wide to level the scores at 9-all, Cronin’s radar-like boot deserted him.

The first full Origin series was on a knife’s edge at one game apiece and 5-all in the third when Blues fullback Phil Sigsworth threw a pass behind his own line to winger Phil Duke, who couldn’t handle. Wally Lewis flashed through to score the match and series-winning try for the Maroons.

4 Paul Eastwood (Great Britain v Australia, 2nd Test, 1990)

Great Britain were poised to reclaim the Ashes after 20 years with an intercept try by Paul Loughlin late in the Test at Old Trafford. Winger Paul Eastwood missed a simple conversion attempt that would have given his team the lead with time running out. As it turned out, a length-of-the-field Australian try, finished off by Australian captain Mal Meninga, snuffed out the Lions’ dreams.

5 Daryl Halligan (Norths v Penrith, 1991 major semi-final)

Penrith advanced to the 1991 grand final after a 16-14 defeat of Norths in the major semi-final. The Bears scored three tries to two but Halligan, the season’s leading pointscorer, managed only one goal from five attempts.

6 Jason Taylor (Norths v Newcastle, 1997 preliminary final)

Taylor, the leading goalkicker in the 1997 ARL competition, managed only two goals from five attempts in the preliminary final against Newcastle. The misses proved crucial and it was only in the final three minutes that the Knights got out of jail to reach the grand final.

7 Ivan Cleary (Sydney City v Newcastle, 1998 quarter-final qualifier)

The Roosters looked down and out when they trailed the Knights 15-0 at halftime at Marathon Stadium but a withering comeback saw the visitors storm to a 26-15 victory. The Roosters scored six second-half tries but sharpshooter Ivan Cleary managed only one goal from six attempts.

8 Brett Kimmorley (Cronulla v Sydney Roosters, 2002 qualifying final)

Kimmorley scored a club record 251 points for the Sharks in 2002 but his right boot failed him in a 32-20 loss to the Roosters. Both sides scored five tries but Kimmorley failed with all five shots at goal. Roosters’ kicker Craig Fitzgibbon landed six from six.

9 Billy Slater (Australia v New Zealand, 2008 World Cup final)

At a crucial point of the match Slater tried to beat Manu Vatuvei on a short blind side but found himself in danger of being forced over the sideline. Rather than be tackled into touch Slater threw a wild pass that was snapped up by Benji Marshall, who scored a pivotal try.

10 Luke Burt (Parramatta v Wests Tigers, Rd 24, 2010)

With his team’s season on the line, Burt missed a regulation attempt at penalty goal that would have sent Parramatta’s critical clash with Wests Tigers into extra-time

Have Your Say

Hi Phil, what about Steve Mavin Souths v Canberra 1989 semi...replaced at half time and apparantly got out of Dodge pronto.
And as much as I hate to bring this up, Saints v Melbourne 1999 GF 2nd half. (Harrigan had a blinder!)

Phil RothfieldTue 24 Aug 10 (09:40am)

Hey Buzz. I think that you missed the biggest choke of all. Steve Mavin playing for South Sydney against the Raiders. That’s number one for sure. Second, Neville Glover. Mick Cronin and Luke Burt is just human error, some they get , some they dont.

Speaking of Mick Cronin, I’m an old toe-poke kicker like the Eels legend. I’m going out to Parramatta Stadium this afternoon - with my Sharks jersey on - to see if I can kick a goal from exactly the same spot. A video will be on the net tomorrow.

Phil RothfieldTue 24 Aug 10 (11:50am)

Hi Buzz,
Welcome back. I’m overseas currently travelling around Europe and i’ve been following your blogs to get my footy fix and i have a question that is off topic. Here in Europe, The AFL has one match shown live every week on Eurosport as well as a weekly round up show. I’ve watched it in France as well as Greece and Serbia. I’m really missing my NRL though and i was wondering if the NRL is available on any channels in Europe and if not, why the NRL isn’t available on tv here. My family and friends in Serbia love when i come and visit as i always bring them some NRL balls and gear. I once had 2 teams of neighbourhood kids playing. If the AFL can show their games in Europe, why can’t the NRL? Cheers and keep up the great work.

Ivan I’ve contacted the NRL to find out how people overseas can stay in touch.
There’s a link to all this info on the home page of NRL.com. Just go to the bottom of the page in the green block titled ‘From the NRL’ and there is a link to international broadcasters.
Basically, they have different broadcasters around the world who show matches and weekly highlight shows. They have quite a few deals now in Europe (but haven’t yet agreed a deal for Serbia).
If someone is in a country that does not get TV coverage, they can pay a fee and watch it streamed live on the net via Omni TV. (about $6 per match).
Or any fan around the world (outside of Aus and NZ) can watch any match on a 24 hour delay on NRL.com by subscribing to Aussie Sport TV (for $US 9.95 a month or $US59.95 for the year). I hope this helps.

Phil RothfieldTue 24 Aug 10 (11:42am)

No mention of St George in Grand Finals? Check out thier record from the 90’s DUCK EGGS!

deadset buzz you support cronulla yet you dont take any shots at the dragons, alas i thank you for not feeding the other clubs supporters who are just jealous we make the finals 9 times out of 10 who for some reason think we have choked, yet to choke we would of had to have had the game and thrown it away, last time we choked was the 99 grand final, oh and to the dogs, parra, tri-chokers, stop calling our team chokers when you boys cant even seal the deal (that goes for you too manly fans)

Leave Smith alone. Every time you bag a team or their coach they come out firing and flog Manly. What have you got against Manly?

Holiday was best EVER but drank far too much. I actually met a mad St George-Illawarra supporter in Patong who claims he recognised me from the red cheeks. (They go even redder when I’m drinking) He turned out to be a terrific fella. Had a lot of fun. They’ve asked me to do a blog on Brian Smith tomorrow. I’ve been warning people all year about the Roosters and what would happen in August. We’ll talk more about that tomorrow.

Phil RothfieldTue 24 Aug 10 (11:55am)

I think the Cowboys Grand Final team in 05 are the biggest chokers of all.

Paul Bowmans ingoal stuff up was totally out of character and was the turning point.

The Tigers were by far the better side. Cowboys didn’t choke, they were outplayed and outclassed.

What is Brian Smith’s “choke” that you refer to? Is it the opposite to your man Ricky’s “non-choke”? Is it the same as John Lang’s “choke”? Or Daniel Anderson’s? Please explain Phil....this should be good!

Phil RothfieldTue 24 Aug 10 (12:01pm)

I reckon you guys are going too far with the choker tag. Every time a side loses a match they are deemed to have choked. Every mistake is now a choke.

I disagree that Billy Slater choked in the match against the Kiwis. That was a rush of blood - a poor decsion. Not a choke.

And as for Brian Smith at the Roosters… i know you love to sink the boot into SMithy, and i am not his biggest fan - but to say Smith has choked cause the Chooks ahve lost a few games is a bit of a stretch.

Choking - before you guys fell in love with the term - would describe being in a position where you couldnt lose… and then losing.

You’re a goose Buzz.... When do the 17 players on the field become responsible for the first half of the 2001 Grand Final?? Not to mention Newcastle played out of their skin… A game plan means nothing when a team is playing that well..

Didn’t Brian Smith lose an unloseable grand final to the Knights?

Phil RothfieldTue 24 Aug 10 (12:12pm)

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